Not fit for purpose? The jargon-laden language of politics

The Guardian, 30 November 2009

Publié le :
30 novembre 2009

Anna Bawden

"MPs on a Commons committee today criticise politicians and civil servants for their poor command of the English language. The misleading and vague official language epitomised by Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minister has a detrimental impact on democracy and public services, MPs on the public administration select committee concluded.

"In its report, Bad Language: the Use and Abuse of Official Language, the committee criticises the use of unclear language that distorts meaning. "The unlovely language of this unreal world floats along on a linguistic sea of rollouts, step changes, public domains, fit for purposes, stakeholder engagements, across the pieces, win-wins, level playing fields and going forwards," the report says."